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new snape casting: musings

i’m conflicted, and ultimately, i think it’s for the worse.

on a basic level, i find black snape very interesting! severus is a character that we understand is disadvantaged and was actively targeted because of the things that made him disadvantaged. he was an impoverished, unattractive, abused half-blood (blood status in HP already being a…. weird, messy allegory for race. insert criticisms of fantasy racism here.) his bullying at the hands of white wealthy students and his radicalization into a hate group that targets people like him but offers him power he has not had access to before rings as particularly painful and impactful if he is a black character. this is a concept that has been explored well in fanworks! snape as a racial minority, not only black, is something fans have tackled and tackled well.

HOWEVER.

when you’re a studio not writing fanfiction or creating fanart but creating a high budget series that will be shown to and engaged with by millions - racebending previously white characters is tricky. when done poorly, it seems like a shallow and very corporate attempt to add diversity in a way that primarily opens the door to harassment of POC actors and neglects to tell original stories about POC characters. when done well, it can add layers to the story that enhance it in an amazing way. the new interview with the vampire show is INCREDIBLE. louis and claudia being black is so integral to the story and its new setting and is done so well it’s almost shocking that it’s not in the original source material.

i do NOT think the writers of this show intend to engage with severus as a black character in a way that is as thoughtful and creatively driven as the writers of IWTV. i think this is a choice that is actively DANGEROUS: severus is already a divisive character, who, as a canonical white male, is already controversial and deeply disliked by many. when a lot of this controversy and dislike comes from perceptions that he perused and stalked a (white!) woman, joined a hate group when rejected by her, and remained manically obsessed with her after her death - casting a black actor seems genuinely sinister. especially if we get white (in particular) sirius and james castings. james and sirius (more so the latter) have nuance. neither are perfectly good. but we, as readers, are intended to understand that ultimately they were good hearted people, even if they did bad things, who died heroes and are deeply important figures to our main character. what story are the writers telling if they deliberately change the character they bullied, and one tried to kill, into a black man?

not to mention the harassment paapa essiedu will receive for this casting. do you remember how awful and violent the harassment campaigns against halle bailey and rachel zegler were/are? how do you think people are going to treat him? does the studio producing the series CARE? do they have protections in place for him?

in conclusion: do i think paapa essiedu can do it? yes. he’s incredibly talented. but: red flags! red flags everywhere! racebending does not bother me the way it bothers freak conservatives, but this seems like an actively unwise and dangerous decision for the reasons above.

but also: 90% certain this show is only being made because JKR is pissy that the main three have grown up and are kind people that have not let transphobia melt their brains. don’t watch this shit - and if you do, yar har, matey. don’t give JKR any more money. don’t engage with this stupid ass reboot. hopefully it gets cancelled and we can all forget about it and the mold poisoning gets her once and for all

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okay, this turned out way more anime than i usually prefer, but I think hooked noses look amazing in this style so I'm not mad at myself

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Pretending that Severus Snape, who grew up in a slum in a shitty neighborhood within a shitty city, with a shitty father and no money to even buy clothes, wouldn’t defend himself from the bullying he suffered is absurd. Severus was raised in an environment of poverty and violence, in a marginalized neighborhood—he was a kid who had probably had to defend himself before. Poor neighborhood kids don’t just take beatings; poor neighborhood kids fight back because that’s the only way to survive. And that doesn’t make them any less victims of a gang of rich kids abusing them thanks to their privileges. Just because a victim doesn’t fit your idea of learned helplessness doesn’t mean they are any less of a victim. You’re welcome.

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a very silly doodle + the sketch that i kind of like better

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Snapetober Day 16: Tangle

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its them

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Don’t get me wrong, I love the depressed Severus—the one who bottles everything up, builds a wall, and keeps moving forward with a scowl and total determination to achieve his goals, who keeps going on autopilot even though he’s exhausted from existing. But nothing can top the Severus who just can’t keep his composure, who snaps and acts like a tantrum-throwing kid, suddenly having the emotional maturity of a fifteen-year-old, throwing out petty, sarcastic remarks like an angry teenager, and looking like he’s about to jump on someone and claw their face off. The first one is fantastic, but the second one? Top tier.

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Christmas Snily <3

Lily giving Severus his favorite holiday dessert :3c

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THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE ON THE LAST POST 🥺 LOVE YOU ALL!! Here's some more sketches of Severus and Harry. :3 I will probably look to introduce new characters into this little AU in time.

Enjoy <3

ONCE AGAIN, NOT SHIP ART!!!

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The Snape Family - 1970

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An accurate representation of Severus Snape and Charity Burbage with Lockhart in the background.

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you've chosen your way

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concept: Snape but he's a soft and chonky moomin

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(sev) loved her like he loved no one 🤍

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Happy birthday Severus Snape!